Imalux Corporation

Optical Coherence Technologies, Inc.

Natalia D Gladkova

Grigory Valentinovich Gelikonov

Valentin Mikhailovich Gelikonov

Alexander Sergeev

Natalia M Shahova

Felix I Feldchtein

Vladimir I Leonov

Alexander M Sergeev

Yakov I Khanin

Felix J Feldchtein

In a method for in vivo diagnostics of a biological tissue covered with epithelium an image of the biological tissue is acquired with the aid of a beam in the visible or near IR range directed towards a biological tissue by visualizing the intensity of optical radiation backscattered by the biological tissue. The basal membrane of said biological tissue, which separates the epithelium from an underlying stroma, is identified in the acquired image and diagnostics is performed on basis of the form of the basal membrane. For diagnostics of biological tissue lining the surface of cavities and internal organs of a patient a miniature optical fiber probe is inserted into the patient's cavity. The probe may be placed at a distal end of an endoscope instrumental channel. Acquired images show that a biological tissue covered with healthy epithelium has a smooth basal membrane, which separates stratified squamous epithelium from underlying connective tissue, while pathological regions of biological tissue are characterized by a change in the shape of the basal membrane, or violation of its integrity, or its absolute destruction. Using low coherent optical radiation for implementing the developed method ensures high spatial in-depth resolution.

Optical coherence tomography apparatus, optical fiber lateral scanner and a method for studying biological tissues in vivo

The present invention relates to the analysis of the internal structures of objects using optical means. According to the invention there were designed an apparatus suited for optical coherence tomography (OCT), an optical fiber lateral scanner (), which is a part of said apparatus and is incorporated into an optical fiber probe (), and a method for studying biological tissue in vivo, which allows for making a diagnostics of the biological tissue under study on basis of the state of the basal membrane (). The moving part of lateral scanner () of sampling arm () of interferometer () is arranged comprising a current conductor (), which envelopes a magnetic system () in the area of one of its poles () and an optical fiber (), which is rigidly fastened to current conductor (), whereas optical fiber () serves as a flexible cantilever, allowing to miniaturize the optical fiber probe (). Constructing magnetic system () as two permanent magnets () which are aligned at their analogous poles (), and placing optical fiber () in a throughhole (), the throughhole () being formed by the facing grooves made in said analogous poles () of permanent magnets (), ensure optimization of the design of optical fiber probe (), the body () of said optical fiber probe () having limited dimensions. Optical fiber probe () is placed at the distal end of an instrumental channel of an endoscope or borescope. Studying of biological tissue in vivo with the aid of the developed apparatus allows for non-invasive diagnostics of biological tissue on basis of the state of basal membrane ().

The present invention relates to the analysis of the internal structures of objects using optical means. According to the invention there were designed an apparatus suited for optical coherence tomography (OCT), an optical fiber lateral scanner ( ), which is a part of said apparatus and is incorporated into an optical fiber probe ( ), and a method for studying biological tissue in vivo, which allows for making a diagnostics of the biological tissue under, study on basis of the state of the basal membrane ( ). The moving part of lateral scanner ( ) of sampling arm ( ) of interferometer ( ) is arranged comprising a current conductor ( ), which envelopes a magnetic system ( ) in the area of one of its poles ( ) and an optical fiber ( ), which is rigidly fastened to current conductor ( ), whereas optical fiber ( ) serves as a flexible cantilever, allowing to miniaturize the optical fiber probe ( ). Constructing magnetic system ( ) as two permanent magnets ( ) which are aligned at their analogous poles ( ), and placing optical fiber ( ) in a throughhole ( ), the throughhole ( ) being formed by the facing grooves made in said analogous poles ( ) of permanent magnets ( ), ensure optimization of the design of optical fiber probe ( ), the body ( ) of said optical fiber probe ( ) having limited dimensions. Optical fiber probe ( ) is placed at the distal end of an instrumental channel of an endoscope or borescope. Studying of biological tissue in vivo with the aid of the developed apparatus allows for non-invasive diagnostics of biological tissue on basis of the state of basal membrane ( ).

Optical coherent tomography apparatus, fiberoptic lateral scanner and method for studying biological tissues in vivo

The invention is related to technical physics, in particular to devices for investigating the internal structure of objects and can be used in medicine for diagnostics of human organs and systems, in particular for optical coherence tomography and in technical diagnostics, for example technological process control. The invention relates to the creation of an optical-fiber interferometer, which, being used in a device for optical coherence tomography, allows one to investigate media with short time of changing of optical characteristics or its position relative to the optical probe, for example biotissues in vivo. The invention also relates to the creation of a piezoelectric modulator, suitable for use in the interferometer and for providing the necessary scanning depth in the mentioned media. In the described optical fiber interferometer the piezoelectric modulator, constructed as a fiber optic piezoelectric controllable delay line, performs a function of the fiber part of the interferometer arm which allows one to change practically inertialess the optical path in the interferometer arm and consequently an optical path difference at least to several tens of the working wavelenghts.

Optical fiber interferometer with PZT scanning of interferometer arm

The invention is related to technical physics, in particular to devices for investigating the internal structure of objects and can be used in medicine for diagnostics of human organs and systems, in particular for optical coherence tomography and in technical diagnostics, for example technological process control. The invention relates to the creation of an optical-fiber interferometer, which, being used in a device for optical coherence tomography, allows one to investigate media with short time of changing of optical characteristics or its position relative to the optical probe, for example biotissues in vivo. The invention also relates to the creation of a piezoelectric modulator, suitable for use in the interferometer and for providing the necessary scanning depth in the mentioned media. In the described optical fiber interferometer the piezoelectric modulator, constructed as a fiber optic piezoelectric controllable delay line, performs a function of the fiber part of the interferometer arm which allows one to change practically inertialess the optical path in the interferometer arm and consequently an optical path difference at least to several tens of the working wavelenghts. The described piezoelectric modulator is constructed as a fiber optic piezoelectric controllable delay line and contains a piezoelectric plate with electrodes and an optical fiber situated on its opposite sides. It is expedient to make the plate in a disk form and to put the fiber as a spiral which allows one to change the optical path in a wide range while keeping the modulator inertialess and compact.

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Nizhny Novgorod, Russia

Natalia D Gladkova